Fruit pitting and cutting machine.



P. C. PHILIPS.

TRUI-T FITTING AND CUTTING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1914.

- 1,1 12,090. Patented sept. 29, 1914.

3 BHEETS- SHEET 1.

WIINIGHSICS: IN PINTOR @M1 mmf P. C. PHILIPS. FRUIT' FITTING` AND oUTTINe MAOHINB.

APPLICATION FILED HAY. 1l, 1914. l

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Fjgt Figs,

` IN V PINTOR I Wam? A\'IIORNMY 'WITN ESSES:

l P. C. PHILIPS. FRUIT FITTING AND oUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED KAI 18, 1914.

1, 1 1 2,090. Patented sept. 29, 1914.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY may handle rapidly and Without undue mu- UNITED sTATEs- PATENT OFFICE.

1,1 12,090. Specification letters Patent APatented Sept. 29, 1914. application mea my 1s, 1914. serial m. 839,269.

To all whom t may concern; v of the frame are suitable journals or Be it known that I, FRANK Cu'rrnn hangers 3, axiallyarranged and `carrying PHILIPS, a Citizen 0f the Unitd,I States a shaft 4, whichy may be operated throughl residing at Healdsburg, in the county of any suitable source of power, the shaft 4 Sonoma and State of California, have in- Yhere being shown as a crank-shaft connected 60 vented new and useful Improvements in by connecting links 5 with suitable foot- Fruit Pitting and Cutting Machines, of pedals 6, whereby the machine may be opwhich the following is a specification. erated manually. Upon o ne end of the shaft This invention relates to improvements in 4 is secured a momentum, or ily-wheel '7, an apparatus for pitting and cutting fruits. and upon the opposite end is secured a 6g It is an object of the resent invention to sprocket pinion 8 to drive a sprocket chain provide means 'for facilitating the pitting 9, which in turn drives an upper sprocket and cutting of various fruits, and particuwheel 10, secured upon a countershaft 1 1, larly to provide im rovements in details of mounted in appropriate journals on the upconstruction, where y the present machine per portion of the frame 2. Secured upon 70 the-countershaft 11 are a pair of driving tilation, fruits of various vkinds and de' sprockets 12 over .which run a pair of pargrees of ripeness. a lel sprocket chains 13e-13, running up- It is a particular yobject of the presentl wardly and forwardly in the direction of inventionV to provide a machine of substanthe arrowv a, Fig. 1, to idler sprockets (75v tial and light construction, and yet which e 14-14,loosely mounted upon a head-shaft may be easily operated by manual or other 15, secured against rotation in journals at power. the upper end bearings 16, which are in the A The invention consists of the parts and form of levers pivoted at their lower ends the construction and combination of parts .at 17 upon suitablemountings or parts of 30 as hereinafter more fully described, having frame 2. The bearing members are pivotreference to the accompanying drawings, in ally mounted upon the frame for the purwllichy pose of providing means for tensioning the Figure l is a side elevation of the imsprocket chains 13; the tension of the latter proved machine. Fig. is' a detail view being obtained by a suitable tightening g5 v showing the crank-shaft hanger. is means comprising screws 18, mounted upon detail section, line X-X, Flg. 1. g. 4 ears 19, or lother suitable portions of, or ont is a section on line Y-Y, Fi 1. Fig. 5 the frame 2, in such a position that the inis a plan view thereof partly roken away ner ends of the screws 18 engage and react in the plane of the fastening screws. Fig. upon the bearing members 16, so that by 90 6 is a sectional detail on line 2 2, Fig. 3. turning the. screws 18 .through their` bear- Figs. 7 and 8'are respectively a side eleva-j ings 19V they may move against the memtion and an axial' section of the 'stationary bers 16,'and turn the same about their pivcutter and aclamp therefor. Figs. y9 and 10. ots 17 to produce the desired-tension of the `are respectively a side elevation and an'aXial chains 13.

` 95 Section of the stationary vcutter and a'modi- Suitably connected and between, and carlied form of clamp. Figs. 11 and 12 are ried by the' sprocket chains 13, are devicesrespectively a Side e'levatlOn partly V111.1560- upon which the fruit to besevered and pittion, and an axial Section of a form 0f StaV ted may bedeposited by any -suitab1e`means, tionary' cutter and another modified'fqrrn las the devices move upwardly `around the 100 of cutter clamp. Fig. 13 is a erspective of Alower end of the sprocket chains 13,v as they g in Fig. 14. Attached to the uprights o r legs which age separated and the upper cutter portion of .t e statienary come around the driving wheels 12.. This cutter. Fig. 14= is a detail view showmga carrying device, in the present instance, form vof mounting for the crankshaft as comprises an arched castlng, or otherwise lapplied to afrarne, consisting of angle Airon' formed support, clearly' shown in Figs. 4" 105* membersl and 5, at 20; the support having a perpen- 2 is a frame built'of-standard pipe mem: dicularly arched back 21,v centrally slotted bers or other` inexpensive materia1,'such. as for nearly its entire' length, as at 22, and

angle iron, a section ofwhich is illustrated having transverse, angle ottom flanges 23,

of. suicient' dis- 11o -taneebetween their inner edges to form a passageway 24 in the plane of the vertical 'slot in the back 21. Detachably mounted to the front of the f back 21 of the carrier is a pad or cushioning member 26 which may be of rubber to protect soft fruit, and which has a central, longitudinal aperture 27, here shown as of -less width than the aperture `22 of the back 21; and secured to the forwardly projecting flanges, or bottom members 23 of the support, are other cushion' pads 28 of rubber or other suitable material, which are substantially concaved as at 29 on their upper surface, and formed in coperation with the rear pad or cushion 26 is an angular member, or seat wherein the fruit to be severed is deposited either by the operator or from any suitable feedin means, preferably with the stem end o the fruit facing the back of the pocket, as at b, Fing. 1, and with the crease of the fruit preferably lying in the slots 24 and 27 of the carrier parts when one o'f the carriers starts its upward move- 25 ment around the driving sprocket 12.

One of .the improvements of the present invention comprises means connected to the v carriers for aiding in holding the fruit in position upon the cushion 26-29, as the 30 carriers pass over the top of the sprocket wheels 12, and move along with the upper stretch of the conveyer chains 13, this means comprising in the present instance, a pair of independently mounted-presser-{ingers 30, pivoted respectively at 31 in front of a pad 26 of a carrier; the fingers projecting forwardly and being free to gravitate down upon a fruit which has beenv deposited in the pocket of aI carrier; these ngers 30 being provided with cushions, or pads 32, adapted to rest upon the fruit and protect it against injury an -hold it steadily, as stated, during thevtraverse of a carrier upwardly with chains 13.

I prefer that somewhat greater length than the back blade 21 of the support or carrier 20, asindicated in Figs. 1 and 4, so 'as to avoid the danger of injuryto 'an o erators hand by 5o engagement withthejrigid metal back 21; and I' prefer that the back blade 21 also be reinforced with va rib or flange 21x1 for Astrengthening the arch where it joins the side arms of the back which are spaced to i provide the slot, or aperture-22.

. A further important 'improvement' in the present invention is the structure of and 4the mounting for a stationary abutment and cutting member which-coperates with each moving carrier 20 todivide af fruit in the carrier and remove the pit ,fro ythe divided section. This abutmentr mem r is shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 9, as comprising a steel cutter or blade 34 of suitable thickness c5 and strength; the upper end of the cutter fastening means the back cushion 26 be of.

being provided with a sickle shaped blade, the concaved edge of which is sharpened at the arcuate portions 35 and at the angular or radial portions 36 which intersect a central, arcuate edge 37, which-has not been sharpened, but left flat in the plane of the thickness of the blade 34; there being secured upon opposite sides, and central of the blade 34, a set of prong members 38,

.clearly shown 1n Fig; 13, provided with points 39 between which, and against the fiat edge 37 ofV the blade 34, the sharp point of a fruit pit will impinge as it is carried toward the stationary cutter 34; the opposite prongs or points 39 serving to prevent the end of the pit from slipping o of the flat edge 37 of the abutment member. The abutment and cutter member 34 is provided with a straight shank portion mounted in a suitable clamp, which in Figs. 7 and 8 lis shown. as comprising a side member 40, with a hub 41 secured upon the upper forward stationary shaft .15, and clamped thereto by suitable" shown as a set-screw 42, Figs. 6 and 7. The perpendicular side 40 of the clamp is slotted as at 43, and recessed as at 44, Fig. ,8, to form a seat for the shank or the blade\ 34 upon the opposite side of which is applied a complementary side member 45 of the clamp, Figs. 3 and 8, through which assembled parts the side 40, the shank of the blade 34 and the side jaw 45, there may be passed a fastening bolt 46, shown as passing through slot 43 of the clamp blade 40, Fig. 7, and when it is desired to clamp the abutment blade 34 rigidly in the clam devices 40--45 another fastening screw 4 may be passed through the clamp blades to bind them together on the inserted abutment blade 34. The detachable blade clamp 45 is provided at its lower end with an aperture 45 for the reception of the adjacent hub ortion formed integrally -with the main c amp body 40, the detachable clamp jaw 45 being secured to the clamp member 40 by a fastening bolt 48, Fig. s. v

For the purpose of permitting the yielding movement of the upper cutting end of the abutment blade 34, as would be desirable while cuttin soft fruit in the machine, upper fastening olt 47 may be eliminated, thus allowing the cutter blade 34 to pivot on the lowegr fastening bolt 46, projecting through the slot 43 of the clamp member 40,

and which slot allows radial adjustment of the blade 34 as may be desired. When the abutment member 34 is vmounted for play in the clamp 40, 1t is preferable that there be provided means for limitin the forward movement of the cutter and w Iich is shown in the present instance as an overhanving horn 34 on the lower forward corner o? the cutter blade 34; this being adapted to swing against the adjacent position j tom of the slot 44 and in contact with the and stop further forward movement. further l34 is to 'spring at the back otherwise, the knife would drop forward at the top and be out of of the forward i 9 and 10 the clamp 40I Lbe divided, and the position. The cutter 3 4, -when pivoted 'on the bolt 46,-is normally thrown forward by a spring 50, the upper end of which is engageable with the rear edge of the cutter 34, the spring being secured at its lower end by a suitable means, as 'a screw or other fas-y tening means 51, so that when the machine is in operation and a fruit to b'e pitted and severed-is carried upwardly by one of the carriers, when the fruit engages the cutting edges of the blade 34, the latter will yield v against its reaction .and supporting spring 50 until the resistance of the spring 50 becomes sufficientl to stop further yielding movement of thecutter blade'34; whereupon the pit will rest against the edge of the outter 34, and t carrier force the fruit in its pocket across e cutter so that the fruit will V pit which remains held against the blade 34 will be ejected through the central opening 26; the severed fruit sections being carried around bythe carrier until they fall foreV wardly out of the latter as this turns downwardly about the upper idler vsprockets 14, while the pit will fall from its support against the front edge of the abutment member 34. -When the machine is operating upon very firm or hard fruit, then it may be desirable to lock the abutment and cutter member 34 against yielding movement by the insertion and fastening bolt 47.,l

The modified .form `of abutment and cut' ting blade is shown'in Fig. 11, in which the horn or prong 34 is el1minated,`and the forward tilting movement of themodilied.

cutter blade `34is prevented by coperation with the contiguous relatively stationary part on, or ofthe clamp. v l

have shown three types or forms of clamps for the abutment and cutting blade, one of-whichv has been described andfshown in Fig. 8, as'c'onsisting of separable clamp jaws 40-45 which are adjustable u on the upper forward sprocket shaft 15. n Figs.

ing of an `integral block with a (perforated hub portion and havingajslot 44 therein for the reception of the cutter blade 34; the blade fastening means comprising bolts, as 46`47, of Fig. 7 while in F 11 and 12, the modification is disclosed as a clamp 40b in which the'shaft 1,5

as a portion of the clamp body which i ,provided with the blade-receiving slot 40 as surface ofthe clamp-I 27 in the back cushion` tightening up of the upper lower corner of this bladel is shown as consist,-

is formed integrally" in Fig. 10. The cutter blades 34 are provided with upper slots 47 for the reception of the fastening bolts 47 which slidably pass through circular apertures formed in vthe opposite clamp jaws, while the aperture in the blade'34 or 34a bolt 47 passes `is-preferably round as shown in Fig. 11, so that while lthe bolt 46 may the clamp jaws, the blade will belifted upwadly or downwardly according to vthe movement of the bolt.

In Fig. 14 there is shown a modied form of bearing members 3. which are adjustable upon the uprights of the frame 2 when yutilized for preparing fruit for drying purof sections, as halves or quarters, and pit-A ting orcoring when necessary, and .may be used for cutting seed potatoes for planting.

mashed or bruised in the cups by the cooperation ofthe yield' j ncup cushions and the yieldably supported ife.'l r

placingon opposite sides ofA the. feed end suitable tables or eedhoppers down lwhiclii' the fruit or vegetables 4being-h'andled would be brought close to right andleftV hands of operator, and enablehimlto feed the I machine alternately with-eachhand. .1

I claim /1. In a fruit. ittiiig'fmach-ine,fa` airfof parallel, spacedc ains'a-driving mee ani'sm therefor and carriers `fixed r upon and .between. said-chinsiandmoving' therewith, each having a pocketfor' the@reception of ruit', .a relativelyv-s`tatonrycuttier andzabutment m ber mounted in..theath of movement. of said-pockets soas to rd1vide the fruit lcarried in the pockets as theypass the abutment memberJ and presser fingers connected to 'said carriers for embracing the fruit placed'in the pocket of the v carriers to steady the-same in its position therein. i 2. In a fruit pitting machine, a pair of parallel,l spaced sprocket chains, a' dri-ving mechanism therefor and carriers lxed'upon and between said chains and movingl therewith, each having a pocket forthe reception abutment member mounted in the path of.

movement of said pockets so as to divide the .the latter is of angle iron form, as shown The machine maybe fedwith 'facility by" -and desirel` 4to'secure` byLetters Pats of fruit, ,a relatively stationary. cutter "andthrough which the lower be shifted longitudinally in the slot 43 of poses by-dividing the fruit into a plurality I' Soft or peeled fruit'is prevented from being Havingihusd sbedmylinyaneon, watt pocket in fruit carried in the pockets as they pass the abutment member, and presser fingers con-l nected to said carriers for embracing lthe fruit placed in the pocket of the carriers to steady the samel in its position therein, said presser lingers automatically falling into engaging position with a fruit inserted in a a carrier during movement of the carrier and automatically operating to release the severed fruit sections in the carrier after the same has passed the cutting member. v

3.- In a fruit pitting machine, a `air of parallel, spaced sprocket chains, a driving mechanism therefor and lcarriers xed upon and between said chains and moving therewith, each having a pocket for the reception of fruit, a relatively stationary cutter and abutment member mounted in the path of movement of said pockets so as to divide the fruit carried in the pockets as they lpass the v abutment member, and presser fingers connected to said carriers for embracing the fruit placed in the pocket of the carriers to steady the same in its osition therein, said cutter member being a justably mounted so as to coperate with the carriers for the severance of fruit of different sizes. j

4. In a fruit pitting machine,` a pair of parallel, spaced sprocket chains, a driving mechanism therefor and carriers fixed upon and Lbetween said chains and moving therewith, each having a pocket for the reception of fruit, a relatively stationary cutter and abutment membel` mounted in the pathy 4oi' movement of said pockets so asto divide the fruit carried in the pockets as they pass the abutment member, presser'ingers connected to said carriers for embracing the fruit placed in the pocket of the carriers to steady thesame in its position therein, and means forproviding for a limited yielding movementof said cutter member.

5. In a fruit pitting machine, a pair of parallel, spaced sprocket chains, a driving mechanism therefor and carriers iiXed upon and between said chains and moving therewith, each having a pocket for the reception of fruit, a relatively stationary cutter and abutment member mounted in the path of movement of said pockets so as to divide the fruit carried in the pockets as they pass the abutment member, presser fingers connected to 'said carriers for embracing the fruit placed in the pocket ofthe carriers to steady the same in its position therein, means for providing for a limited yielding movement of said cutter member, said means comprising a pivotal support for the cutter, and a springl reacting against the swinging portion of the cutter member.

6. In combination with a fruit pitting and cutting machine having movablef carriers, a relatively stationary abutment, a cutting member adapted to pass centrally and be- 'stationary clamp r 1": tween each carrier for the severance of fruit mounted therein, 4said member having curved, opposite l'nife edges and an inter-l mediate arcuate edge portion with a surface perpendicular to the blade prongs at the central portion of said intermediate curve, the surface of' the curve and prongs cooperating to form a rest for and to prevent slipping of the pit of the fruit bein severed while a carrier is moving with re ation to the abutment member for the removal of the pit from the fruit.

7. In combination with an inclined conveyer, and fruit carriers on the conveyer, cutting means coperating with the carriers to cut the fruit, and means movably connected to the carriers gage the fruit to hold sameon the carriers as the latter approach the cutting means and to automatically be disengaged. from the fruit after `the carrier passes the cutting means so as to allow the fruit to be removed fromthe carrier,

8; The combination in a fruit pitting and cutting machine yhaving' movable carriers, each adapted to receive a fruit to be severed and pitted, with means for moving the carriers, a cutter and abutment blade adapted to pass through the carrier, anda relatively comprising side jaws bctWeen which said blade is insertible and secured, and means providing for longitudinal adjustment of the blade.

9. The combination in a fruit pitting and cutting machine having movable carriers, each adapted to receive a fruit to be severed and pitted, with means for moving the carriers, a cutter and abutment blade adapted to pass through the carrier, a relatively stationary clamp comprising side jaws between which said blade is insertible and secured and adapted for longitudinal adjustment, means providing for a yielding pivotal movement of `said member, including a pivot in the clamp for said member.- and a yieldable support reacting upon said member to hold the same upright in the clamp.

10. The combination in a ruitpittingand cutting machine having movable carriers, each adapted to receive a fruit to be severed and pitted, with means for moving the carriers, a cutter and abutment blade adapted to pass through the carrier, a relatively stationary clamp comprising side jaws lbetween which said blade is insertible and secured and adapted for longitudinal adjustment, means providing for a yielding pivotal movement of said member, including a pivot in the clamp for said member, and a yieldable support reacting upon. said ,member to hold the same upright in the clamp, ysaid member having a part engageable with a coperative part of thelamp to limit the forward movement-of said member under 'the reaction of the spring.

to automatically en- 11. The combination in a machine for preparing fruit, a plurality of traveling cups lined with yieldable pads, said cups and pads being slotted, and a stationary bearing with a movable knif fruit is carried, the kmfe passing through the cups, and a spring.

or peeled fruit in the cups against crushing or bruising.

l2. In combination with an inclined conveyor, and fruit carriers on the conveyer, cutting means coperating with the carriers to cut the fruit, and gravity operated means connected to the carrier, which are arranged to automatically engage the fruit to hold same on the carriers as the latter approach the cutting means and to automatically drop down out of engagement With the fruit after the carrier passes the cutting means so as to allow the fruit to be removed from the carrier.

13. In combination With an endless conveyer, cutting means and a fruit carrier thereon, means coperating with the carrier to hold the fruit on the carrier, said means automatically moving to position to While approaching the gagement yvith'the fruit.

In combination with an endless con- Witnesses.

ve'yer,' cutting means and a fruit carrier thereon, a pair of independent means coperating with the carrier to hold the fruit on the carrier by engaging the fruit on opposite sides thereof, said means automatically moving to position to engage the fruit While approaching the cutting mea1 1 s and after passing the cutting means automatically moving to position out of engagement with the fruit.

15. In a fruit cutting machine, an endless conveyer having a substantially horizontal disposition, cutting means, a fruit carrier o-n the conveyer, and means on the conveyer to engage the fruit to hold same in the carrier, said means upon passing the cutting means and moving downward being automatically disengaged from the fruit so that upon the commencement of the upward movement of the said fruit engaging means, fruit may be placed in the carrier and upon further upward movement said fruit engaging means Will automatically engage the fruit prior to the latter reaching the cutting means.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto .set my hand in the presence of two subscribing FRANK CUTTER PHILIPS. 

